Cohabitation agreement

Cohabitation Agreements are written contracts that romantic couples enter into if they are planning on living together but are not married. It is a good idea to enter into a Cohabitation Agreement if you are living and acting like a martial unit (but you are not actually married) – i.e. sharing resources, living together, romantically intimate, etc. There are default laws that start applying as soon as these facts start to become reality, and a lot of non-married couples don’t know that and would prefer some of those default laws not apply. You can come up with your own agreement regarding the assignment and ownership of your assets and debts by entering into a Cohabitation Agreement with your partner. Our family law attorneys are happy to chat with you about this.

Committed Intimate Relationships or CIR

A committed intimate relationship or CIR is essentially a committed personal, romantic, and cohabiting relationship but the parties never get married. It looks like a marriage, walks like a marriage, and talks like a marriage, but the couple isn’t legally married. This is a very common scenario. If you are splitting from a long-term partner, you have rights. Chat with our attorneys to find out how everything should be divided.

Child Support 

When two people have a child together, they are both financially obligated to support that child. If parents break up, both remain financially responsible to that child. Typically, the parent who has the child the majority of the time will receive child support from the other parent monthly. Either parent can request child support be court-ordered. Child support can also be ordered when a third party (not the parent – like a family member or friend) has custody of a child. Navigate family law attorneys are skilled with child support issues and can guide you through the process.

Child Custody 

If two people have a child, both parents have constitutional rights to be a parent. If they break up after having a child, then either of them can request that the court order a parenting plan (shared parenting schedule). Child custody is the word that refers to parents’ rights to see their children and make decisions about them. Third parties (non-parents) can also obtain child custody in certain circumstances. Child custody or child visitation can be a complicated topic, and it is best to consult and strategize with an attorney about your situation and what you can expect regarding a shared parenting schedule.

Establishment of Parentage and Parenting Plans

It is common for unmarried parents to have children. If you are an unmarried parent and you want to establish a legal relationship and enforce your rights with your child, you will need to establish parentage and a parenting plan through the courts. Through this kind of legal action, you can establish who the biological parents are, who the child lives with primarily, how much time each parent will have with the child, and who gets to make important decisions for your child (such as health care, education, relocation). We can also assist if you need to disestablish parentage of a child (i.e. the parent listed on the birth certificate is not the parent of the child). Either establishing or disestablishing parentage can be somewhat complicated, and sometimes involves the state attorney.  Navigate Law Group family law attorneys can help.

De Facto Parentage

This is a legal action where a person can request that the court find them to be a de facto parent of a child to whom they are not biologically or legally related. The legal standard that the person must prove in order to be found a de facto parent is pretty steep. This type of case is very case-specific and depends on a variety of factors, including but not limited to length of time residing with the child, holding the child out as your own, caring for the child, establishing a bond with the child, undertaking permanent responsibilities for the child, etc. It is very important that you consult with a knowledgeable attorney before pursuing this action. We are here to help.

Non-Parent Custody

Non-parent custody is when a third party, who is not the parent (typically a grandparent, family member, or family friend), files a court action asking for legal custody of the child. The non-parent will need to prove that the parents are unfit to care for the child or that living with the parent is negatively affecting the growth and development of the child. If the parent believes they should keep the child, they can object and fight the request for non-parent custody. These situations can be particularly contentious, and our family law attorneys are ready to help you through it.

Minor Guardianship

Minor Guardianship is a legal action where a non-parent can request physical custody of a minor child. This legal action replaced Washington state’s prior non-parental custody law. Under the minor guardianship law, the court can appoint an emergency guardian or establish a long-term guardian of the child. An emergency guardianship can be obtained if the concerned person can show there is likely going to be substantial harm to the minor child if left in the parent’s care and if no other person appearing to have authority is willing to act to prevent the harm. Long term guardianship of a minor can be achieved if a court finds it is in the child’s best interest, and there is clear evidence that the parents are not willing or able to exercise parenting functions. Parents can also agree to have a third party take over guardianship of their minor child. Navigate Law Group’s family law attorneys can guide and advocate for you through this process. 

Non-Parent Visitation

This is a legal action where a close relative can request court-ordered visitation with a child if the child’s parents are obstructing visitation. The legal standard that the non-parent must prove in order to be awarded court-ordered visits is pretty steep. There are also potentially severe financial ramifications if you pursue this action and are not successful. It is very important that you consult with a knowledgeable attorney before pursuing this action. We are here to help.

Temporary Orders